| TBBOTOF | 264
Tang Xu was just making casual conversation and didn’t expect that right after the second day of the second lunar month, they would have managed to hatch chicks.
The weather had already warmed up, and the sunlit areas were a soft mossy green.
In the backyard, the chicken coop had also welcomed some new chicks, chirping incessantly, creating a lively and vibrant scene.
Wang Cuicui was holding a small basin filled with golden millet grains. She grabbed a handful and scattered it into the coop, causing the chickens to scramble for the food.
"How did you manage this? It’s just barely past winter, and you’ve already hatched chicks," she remarked while continuing to scatter several more handfuls into the coop. Whatever the chicks couldn’t eat, the older chickens would peck clean.
Tang Xu carried three large cabbages and placed them in the rabbit pen. Hearing her comment, he explained, “When we remodeled the bathhouse earlier, we dug up an underground hot spring. The warm water flows to the chicken and duck coops, keeping them cozy. Plus, we cook pig feed here three times a day, so it stays warm.”
While other people’s hens might stop laying eggs during the cold winter months, his not only kept laying but even managed to hatch chicks in the coop.
“You two are really resourceful,” Wang Cuicui said as she emptied the last bit of millet from the basin into the coop.
Watching the ten or so little chicks, she found herself liking them more and more. Her expression gradually softened with a hint of wistfulness. “Back when I was at home, I kept five or six hens and eagerly waited for them to lay eggs. Every morning, I’d check the coop for eggs, saving up until I had ten or twenty to sell. In the village, they’d go for three coins for two eggs, but if you sold them outside, you could get two coins for one egg.”
Tang Xu quietly listened.
"One time, it started raining after I’d just left home. It hadn’t been long since I’d set out, and I figured there probably wouldn’t be many people coming out to buy things in the rain, so I turned back. But after walking just a few steps, I slipped and fell. All the eggs I’d saved for over half a month smashed onto the ground," Wang Cuicui said with a bitter smile. "At that moment, it felt like the sky was falling."
Tang Xu let out a light sigh. "Auntie, you’ve had it tough."
Wang Cuicui smiled at him and replied, "That’s all in the past. Back then, I never could’ve dreamed of the good days we have now."
As she spoke, her earlier heavy expression lifted, and she beamed with joy. Raising her arm, she rolled up her sleeve to reveal a silver bracelet around her wrist. "Look, your father gave me this yesterday."
Tang Xu was a little surprised. Taking a closer look, he noticed that the bracelet was engraved with simple patterns—not overly ornate. Judging by its width and heft, it must weigh around four taels.
He couldn’t help but chuckle and tease, "Auntie, my dad must have dipped into his private stash to buy you this bracelet. You two really are good together."
Wang Cuicui’s face reddened at his words. She glared at him in mock annoyance, her expression half embarrassed and half amused.
“Your dad must’ve been saving up that silver for who knows how long, and he never said a word,” Wang Cuicui said, clearly very fond of the bracelet.
As she spoke, she couldn’t resist rubbing and polishing it yet again. “When he gave it to me, he just tossed it into my hands without saying anything and turned around to leave.”
Tang Xu burst out laughing as he walked alongside her toward the front yard. “He must’ve been embarrassed. My dad’s not great with words, but he’s always thinking about you in his heart.”
Wang Cuicui smiled softly, her lips pressed together. “I know that.”
Tang Xu thought to himself, Here I am, early in the morning, being force-fed dog food by this middle-aged couple.
What did I do to deserve this?
In the kitchen, the fire was already lit, and Tang Li was putting the washed mixed grains into the big pot. She placed the lid on, turned around, and saw the two of them walking in.
Then she noticed Wang Cuicui’s rolled-up sleeves and the corner of her mouth couldn’t help but twitch. Sidling up to her brother, she whispered mischievously, “She’s showing it off to you too, isn’t she?”
Tang Xu chuckled softly and nodded. “Yeah.”
Wang Cuicui didn’t pay attention to their quiet exchange. She headed to the pantry and pulled a pickled vegetable from a jar.
Tang Li, still whispering, added, “This morning, when Auntie came out of the house, she kept lifting her hand—touching her hair one moment, her face the next. At first, I thought something was wrong with her. Then later, right in front of me, she washed her hands twice, and that’s when I finally noticed the silver bracelet!”
Tang Li laughed as she recounted the story, her eyes crinkling with mirth. She turned to Tang Xu and said, “I never thought Dad would give gifts.”
“What’s the matter? Liu Yao never gave you anything?” Tang Xu raised an eyebrow teasingly.
Tang Li’s smile froze for a moment before her face turned red.
How could Liu Yao not have given her anything?
He’d given her plenty. Just before the New Year, Liu Yao had returned to his family’s house, leaving some silver for his parents, but the rest he handed over to Tang Li—even though they weren’t married yet. Liu Yao had already entrusted her with managing their shared finances.
He had also bought her a pair of pearl earrings. The pearls weren’t of the finest quality and were quite small, but they had still been quite expensive.
When Tang Li received the gift, she had been both delighted and a little distressed about the cost. But in the end, the happiness outweighed the worry.
Thinking about it now, a blissful smile spread across her face. Tang Xu clicked his tongue in mock exasperation.
“One after another! Everyone’s just feeding me dog food!”
He grumbled inwardly and decided he needed to go find his man too!
Meanwhile, Wei Dong was inside, helping the three little ones get dressed. While they could manage most of it themselves, they sometimes got their buttons mixed up—especially Xiao Bao, who struggled with the knotted buttons.
His little fingers couldn’t quite grasp them, and every time he tried, his fingertips ended up red from all the pinching.
Xiao Bao was spoiled; whenever his fingers hurt, he’d cry and throw a tantrum.
“Father~” Xiao Bao whined in his babyish voice as he burrowed into Wei Dong’s arms. “Help me~”
Wei Dong chuckled softly, lifting him onto his lap to sit. He then began fastening the buttons for him.
“Hold it like this, be a little gentler,” he said, patiently guiding Xiao Bao’s tiny hands. Despite the repeated demonstrations, Xiao Bao just nodded and mumbled his agreement, though he still couldn’t quite manage it.
When Tang Xu walked in and saw the gentle look on Wei Dong’s face, he snorted softly. Reaching over, he pinched Xiao Bao’s cheek and teased, “Sucking up to your father again, huh?”
Xiao Bao giggled and reached out to Tang Xu with his chubby little arms. “Dad, hug hug!”
Tang Xu bent down and scooped him up, giving him a playful squeeze on his soft little bottom. “You’re getting pretty heavy now.”
Immediately, Xiao Bao’s expression changed. His once-cheerful face drooped, and he pouted as he whined, “I’m not fat! Bao’er is very light!”
“That was a pretty smooth retort,” Tang Xu said with a laugh as he placed Xiao Bao onto the bed.
On the bed, the chubby boy and Er Bao had already finished getting dressed and were jumping around excitedly. Thankfully, the bed was layered with thick quilts; otherwise, the wooden frame would never survive their antics.
“Come down and put on your shoes. Hurry up and wash up—Grandma’s already finished making breakfast,” Tang Xu called out, waving them over.
The chubby boy responded with an obedient “Oh,” while Er Bao skipped the formalities, leaping off the bed and straight at Tang Xu.
Er Bao had grown taller and sturdier than his eldest brother, and his sudden lunge caught Tang Xu off guard—he almost couldn’t catch him.
Thankfully, Wei Dong reacted quickly, grabbing Er Bao mid-air and holding him securely in his arms.
“I want Dad to hold me!” Er Bao squirmed in protest, pouting unhappily when he realized he couldn’t break free. “Dad is holding Xiao Bao but not me!”
Tang Xu quickly reached out to take him. “I’ll hold you! I’ll hold all of you! One by one, you’re all my little ancestors!”
Not wanting to play favorites, Tang Xu gave Er Bao a big hug, then turned to scoop up his eldest son.
But the chubby boy waved him off with an unimpressed look.
And what did he say?
“Dad’s too bony! It’s uncomfortable!”
Tang Xu gritted his teeth and pinched his cheek. “What did you say? you little rascal!”
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